Posted by All too soon this website, JESolomon.com, is a year old. It was started in November 2008 with
the publication of two poems – Human Life and Some Loves, and a feature article titled The Obama
Phenomenon.
JESolomon.com was largely inspired and encouraged by Chris Odediran, a former Acting Editor
and News Editor of Nigeria’s largest circulating newspaper Group, Punch Newspapers with their
headquarters in Lagos. Now resident in New Jersey, USA, Chris incidentally designed and built
this website. He is the technical administrator, and author of Wall Street CEOs, posted on
February 17, this year. His ever-ready commitment in supporting this website has been invaluable.
I will like to express my appreciation to two of my co-workers, Raguel Fritz Charles and Janetta
Morris, who never stopped advising me to return to journalism after reading some of my earlier
articles and poems. I hope that this website somehow satisfies their wishes.
Perhaps a significant factor that enabled the birth of this blog was the vacuum that was
created in my life when I lost a full-time job in October, last year. Just as Nature abhors
a vacuum so does Life itself. In every seemingly bad situation, there could be an opportunity
for something good. My reverend minister back home in Ghana, Rev. Samuel Sasu, used to say
that, “When life gives you lemon, make a lemonade.”
Redirecting what could have been unspent energy into blogging did not only help to take my mind
off a job loss, it also reawakened the dormant flair I have for writing. Although not a financially rewarding venture, managing this website offers me a great opportunity for leisure writing, a source of pleasure that is inwardly so satisfying it kind of raises my spirits moon high in the face of a general economic downturn.
On the occasion of the first year of this blog, I send my warmest greetings to all my readers
and friends. Their encouraging words have provided me with the enthusiasm to keep the blog
going. Friends like Nii Matthew Abbey and Raymond Nash who live in the UK, and who have been
in my life for half a century, will always be remembered for their encouragement. I can not mention the names of all the people whose inspiring words have served as a boost in my effort to maintain the website, however, I have to mention Emmanuel Ofori, Benjamin Martey and Johannes Tsoedi all of New Jersey, USA.
I also have to thank my family – Becky, Naa-Adjeley, Naa-Deidei and Nii-Owusu – for having the
patience to deal with my habit of spending long hours on the only working computer available.
Sometimes I wonder whether my late night disturbances – footsteps on creaky hard wood floor,
the typing, and worse of all, the buzzing sound of microwave while they are sleeping – are not a bother to them.
I know they can sleep comfortably regardless of that kind of nuisance, but considering that I
am, by nature, intolerant of noise and disturbance, it makes me feel guilty of the late night
annoying habit. In fact, over 70 percent of my writings and postings have been done very late
into the night.
Finally, I thank God the heavenly Father. He is, without doubt, the driving force within me,
and the literary mind from which had come the zestful expressions in proses and poetry.
Meanwhile, any one interested in having his or her writings posted on this blog is gladly
welcome. Brevity and interest will be the criteria for selecting materials.